FPL to open application period for 2012 solar rebate program on Oct. 27

JUNO BEACH, Fla., Oct. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- On Oct. 27, 2011, Florida Power & Light Company customers interested in installing solar-powered upgrades to their homes and businesses can apply for 2012 incentive funding.

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As part of an ongoing pilot program approved by the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) to help reduce energy consumption and peak demand, rebates for 2012 will be available on a first-come, first-served basis for residential and business customers who choose to install solar water heating or solar photovoltaic (PV) systems.

The PSC has authorized $15.5 million for FPL's 2012 solar rebate program. The program will run from Oct. 27, 2011, through September 2012. Reservations for approximately half of the funds are planned to be issued on Oct. 27, 2011, and reservations for the remaining balance of funds are planned to be issued in the spring of 2012. Funds are expected to run out quickly, so interested customers should plan to apply for rebates as soon as the application period opens.

"These rebates can help significantly defray the upfront cost of a customer's investment in distributed renewable energy generation, but the annual funding is limited and first-come, first-served so we continue to encourage interested customers to make sure they have the necessary components of the application ready," said Marlene Santos, FPL's vice president of customer service.

Interested customers should begin exploring options as soon as possible to ensure that they have time to identify and hire a contractor and gather the required information before the application period opens on Oct. 27. Program details and application checklists are available now at www.FPL.com/solarrebates.

• Residential Solar Water Heating – FPL's residential solar water heating program will provide $1,000 per installed solar water heater. According to the Florida Solar Energy Center, a solar water heater can cut a family's water heating costs by up to 85 percent. 

• Business Solar Water Heating – Business customers will be eligible for a variable rebate based on the size of the system installed that will equal $30 per 1,000 BTUh/day of the maximum rated output of the installed system. The maximum incentive during the life of the program is $50,000 per site. Businesses with multiple locations can receive a maximum combined rebate of up to $150,000 per funding year. 

• Residential Solar PV – The residential solar PV program will provide an incentive of $2,000 per kW of the rated direct-current (DC) output of a PV system up to a maximum of $20,000.

• Business Solar PV – The business PV program will provide a variable incentive depending on the output of the system. The rebate will be up to $50,000 per site during the life of the program and will be calculated as follows: $2 per DC watt nameplate rating of the solar panel up to the first 10 kW; $1.50 per DC watt nameplate rating of the solar panel from 10 kW up to 25 kW; and, $1 per DC watt nameplate rating of the solar panel greater than 25 kW. Businesses with multiple locations can receive a maximum combined rebate of up to $150,000 per funding year.

In addition to the residential and business customer rebate programs, FPL is making a limited number of rebates available to qualifying not-for-profit organizations that install eligible solar water heaters in new construction for low-income families. FPL also plans to expand a successful energy-producing, educational program that has installed 10 solar PV arrays at schools and other educational facilities within the company's service territory. Through this pilot program, FPL plans to install at least one Next Generation Solar Education Station in 28 school districts throughout Florida.

These incentives are part of FPL's expansive energy-efficiency program for customers. FPL ranks No. 2 among electric utilities nationwide in electric generation avoided through demand-side management programs, according to the latest U.S. Department of Energy data.

FPL does not endorse or recommend any individual installers for any of its programs, nor does FPL bear any responsibility for the quality or performance of any products or contractors chosen or hired by the customer. Customers should choose products and contractors carefully, given the many variables involved. The decision to select and hire and the management of the contractor that will install the eligible products is the customer's sole responsibility. There are many installers with varying levels of capability and experience. Customers should check to make sure the work performed by a contractor meets all applicable licensing and building code requirements.

Florida Power & Light Company

Florida Power & Light Company is the largest electric utility in Florida and one of the largest rate-regulated utilities in the United States. FPL serves 4.5 million customer accounts in Florida and is a leading employer in the state with approximately 10,000 employees. The company consistently outperforms national averages for service reliability while customer bills are below the national average. A clean energy leader, FPL has one of the lowest emissions profiles and one of the leading energy efficiency programs among utilities nationwide. FPL is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Fla.-based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE). For more information, visit www.FPL.com.

SOURCE Florida Power & Light Company